Decline in spending on renewable energy projects during the first half. Wind and solar have yet to become fully competitive with fossil fuel power generation.

Spending on solar and wind also fell in Europe, where governments and environmentalist groups are particularly vocal about their clean energy plans. Investments fell 4 percent, despite a surge in new spending on renewables in several countries, including Spain, Sweden, the UK, and Ukraine. In the United States, new renewables spending fell by 6 percent.